Belt-clasp



No. 62!,3". Patentd Mar. l4, I899. J. A. BAEUERLE.

BELT CLASP.

(Application filed June 15, 1897.)

(NuMudeL) W itnesses.

Attorney.

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B ELT-C LASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621 ,3 1 1, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed June 15, 1897. Serial No. 640,903. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEROME A. BAEUERLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt- Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clasps for belts or skirt bands.

The objects of my invention are, first, to

provide a clasp which is easy and simple in its operation and eflicient in use; second,to provide a clasp which properly retains the ends of the belt or band in place; third, to provide a clasp which is easy to manufacture; fourth, to provide a clasp for a skirtband or belt which will be very flat and thin and not add materially to the thickness of the parts at the point of attachment.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detail description.

I accomplish these objects of myinvention by the devices and means described in the following specification, definitelypointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the upper portion of a skirt with one of my improved claspsor fasteners in position, the same being unfastened and thrown open to show the relation of the parts. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation of the clasp itself detached from any belt or band. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation on line 3 3 of Fig.2, looking in the direction of the little arrows. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the outer member of the clasp. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cletail view of the inner member.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, BQis the inner member of the clasp and consists of a rectangular plate with suitable perforations therethrough, by which it is attached to the inner end of the band of the garment. One end of the plate B is offset and contains a small slot B therethr'ough. A stud B, like the little post of a corsetclasp, only preferably a little larger, is se cured to the opposite end of the plate B and projects in the direction of the ofiset portion. The outer member A of the clasp is a plate of metal shaped like the end of the belt, containing also suitable perforations for its attachment to the garment. This plate has a tongue A projecting back from the end of the plate to which it is attached inv position to engage through the slot B. A transversely-situated keyhole-shaped slot A, with the small portion projecting more or less toward the end of the plate, toward the end of the belt or band from the larger portion is through the plate in position to close over the post B and allow it to engage in the smaller portion of the keyhole-slot. Thus in use the plate A is attached to the outer end of the band with the tongue A projecting backward from the end of the band, and the plate B is Secured to the inner end of the band with its slot B toward the end of the band.

In operating the clasp the tongue A of the plate A is inserted into the slot B, and the stud B is inserted into the keyhole-slot A, andthe stress upon the plate or band causes it to pass into the narrow portion of the keyhole-slot, retaining the same securely. The plate A should be of the width and form of the band or belt, so that it holds the end perfectly flat and even. The plates could be attached to the belt or band by other means than those indicated.

It will be observed from the relation of the parts that the principal strain comes on the comparatively large tongue A and forces the end of the inner portion of the plate tight around the person, making a simple clasp and at the same time a very secure one, because the stud B receives very little strain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a belt or skirt-band fastener, the combination of a plate or member for the inner end of the belt or band having a transversely-located slot toward its outer end; a plate or member for the outer end of said belt or band with a tongue extending in the direction of said belt adapted to engage the slot of the opposite member, and a fastening between In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my the plates or members consisting of a headed hand and sealin the presence of two witnesses.

stud fixed on one and a transversely-loeated keyhole-slot in the other adapted to engage JEROME BAEUERLE' 5 the said stud whereby the tongue will be re- Witnesses:

tained in engaging position when the bandi W. S. VOOD,

slaekened as specified.

F. LLEWELLYN CHAPPELL. 

